James a



(No Model.)

J. A. MALONEY.

OTOPHONE.

No. 538,378. Patented Apr. 30, 1895.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. MALONEY, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO E.FRANCIS RIGGS, OF SAME PLACE.

OTOPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,378, dated April30, 1895.

Application filed July 20,1894.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES A. MALONEY, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of WVashington, in the District of Oolu mbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Otophones; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the'art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side view,

partly in section, showing the invention applied to one form ofinstrument. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the invention applied toa second form of instrument. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the diaphragm.Fig. at is an edge View of the same with the means for supporting it,and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the supporting-segment.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements inotophones or auriphones, designed for use by persons of defectivehearing, and more particularly to that class of such devices as are setforth and claimed in my patents, dated May 3, 1887, Nos.

362,099 and 362,100.

The present invention relates more particularly to the diaphragm whichreceives the sound impulses and transmits the vibrations thereof to thedrum-head, and to the combination of the same with the other essentialparts 5 of the instrument, the object being to provide a diaphragm whichis exceedingly sensitive to sound vibrations and which, at the same timeis free from liability to rupture; and to support the same in such amanner as to give it great freedom of movement while preventing thetransmission of its vibrations to adjacent parts of the instrument wherethey would become lost and of no effect.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 shows the invention applied to an instrument of the general formshown in my Patent No. 362,100, and consisting of an elongated tube A, amouth piece B upon one end of said tube, an ear piece 0 at the oppositeSerial No. 513.123. (No model.)

end thereof, a diaphragm case D, and diaphragm E situated just behindsaid ear piece, said diaphragm case and diaphragm being constructed inaccordance with my present invention.

The diaphragm E is made of a thin, circular, or approximately circular,sheet of some metal possessing great vibratory properties, and of greattenacity and strength. The metal which I prefer to employ is aluminiumwhich I have found to meet the above requirements to a high degree andwhich gives excellent effects. This diaphragm is supported in the case Dby means of a short segment F of some material of non-vibratorycharacter secured to one edge of the diaphragm by means of screws d, d.Said segment is secured to the case D usually by means of two screws 0,0, one near each end of the segment, the surface of the segment beingcut away, as indicated at f, f, so that the heads of these screws areout of contact with the diaphragm. IVith the exception of this supportagainst the central portion of the segment, the diaphragm is entirelyfree and unconfined, which gives it a wide range of vibrations from thesound impulses directed against it through the mouth piece and tube. Iprefer to form the segment ofa small block of lead, but other materialpossessing the same properties may be employed.

The mouth pieceis adapted to the face of the speaker in such a mannerthat none of the sounds uttered will escape from the tube, and that noexternal sounds can enter same. The ear piece is also of such form as tofit over the 85 external ear or auricle, excluding external sounds andguarding against the escape of internal sounds, which are communicatedto the drum-head through the interposed media.

The non-vibratory supporting segment or 0 block prevents the vibrationsof the dia phragm from being transmitted to the casing and lost.

Fig. 2 shows the application of the same diaphragm and support to thegeneral form of in- 5 strument shown in my Patent No. 362,099, andcomprising a sound collector H, a case I, a short curved tube Kconnecting said sound 2. In an otophone or similarinstrument thecombination with a diaphragm of a support therefor, said supportcomprising a short block or segment of non sound conducting 15properties, such as lead. substantially as speci- In an otophone thecombination with a sound carrying tube having a mouth piece or soundcollector, and an ear piece, of a metallic zo diaphragm situated behindthe ear piece, and

a short segment or block of poor sound conducting properties securingsaid diaphragm to Ms case, said diaphragm being entirely free except atsuch short segment or block, substantially as specified.

4:. In an otophone, the combination with a thin metallic diaphragm andits case, of a short segment or block of poor sound conductingproperties secured to said case and to which the diaphragm is secured atone edge, said block being cut away adjacent to the diaphragm at thepoints where said block is sooured to the casing, substantially asspecified.

5. In an otophone the combination with a diaphragm of aluminum, of ashort securing and supporting block or segment at one edge thereof, saidblock or segment being of poor sound conducting material, such as lead,substantially as specified. I

In testimony whereof I at'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. MALONEY.

Witnesses:

PHILIP O. MASI, GEO. M. ANDERSON.

